January 5, 2010
by Administrator
Here are the basics to help you choose the right insulated garage doors for your home:
Construction
Steel garage doors offer the broadest range of insulation options and price points.
A single-layer garage door is made of one layer of non-insulated steel.
Two-layer garage doors feature a layer of insulation combined with an outer steel skin for added comfort, energy efficiency and quiet operation.
Three-layer garage doors are the most durable construction with insulation sandwiched between two layers of steel for excellent energy efficiency, strength, durability and quietest operation.
Insulation Type
There are two different types of insulation used in garage doors: expanded polystyrene and polyurethane. Both offer good thermal performance and strength.
R-value and U-Factor:
- “R-value” is a familiar benchmark for shoppers to compare the insulating efficiency of a garage door. The higher the R-value, the more energy efficient the door is.
- “U-factor” is another term related to thermal efficiency that has become familiar to consumers because of the federal stimulus legislation. The lower the U-factor, the more energy efficient the insulation is. Insulated garage doors with a minimum U-factor of 0.30 installed on a homeowner’s primary residence by December 31, 2010 are eligible for a 30% tax credit. Additional criteria apply.
Both polystyrene and polyurethane insulated garage doors qualify for the Energy Tax Credit. More details are available at Clopay and www.energystar.gov.